Action Rhyme: “Big Gray Elephant”
The big gray elephant slowly walks.
She doesn’t make a sound.
She swings her trunk from left to right.
When she puts her feet on the ground.
Swing, swing, left and right,
She doesn’t make a sound.

Fingerplay with Puppets: “Two Big Elephants”
Two big elephants were sitting on a hill
One named Jack and the other named Jill
Run away, Jack! Run away, Jill!
Come back, Jack! Come back, Jill!

This craft came from this amazing Pinterest pin, originally from Tippytoe Crafts! Parents and kids loved this craft, and Miss Katie made sure to buy noisemakers that were super difficult to make the noise with.

How It Went

I had a lot of new families in this storytime and I got a lot of high compliments on their way out the door! (It is totally reassuring, even if you a veteran, to hear that your work is appreciated!) I think they had the best time during “What If An Elephants Stand on Your Foot,” which was the book that inspired this theme! I also modified the “Up the Hill” fingerplay, which led to lots of giggles once the elephant went down the hill!

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15 comments on “Elephants!”

Thank you for your wonderful work and generosity Katie. I love your blog! I will be offering a 20 week lapsit program beginning on 10/6 and one of my new themes is elephants. This will be very helpful. I also put together a list of elephant stories, curriculum and crafts last year on my blog. You may find that information here:http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2011/08/gentle-giants-among-us-elephants-in.html

Wishing you a happy day!
Karen Chace
Professional Storyteller/Teaching Artist

This craft is perfect for our playgroup. We are a group of expat moms in India so often supplies are limited ,but I just saw noisemakers in a small toy shop! Next week is my first time to host and I’ve chosen an elephant theme. Thanks for posting such great ideas!

At the end of summer, exhausted and trying to think of what to do for September, I always find and am inspired by your ideas, crafts, and all around awesome storytimes! Thank you again for energizing my storytime planning.

[…] Our next book was My Elephant. This is a very sweet book about a little boy’s imaginary elephant playmate. The parents really appreciated it, and I got several chuckles out of them. Next, we did the rhyme Big Gray Elephant from Storytime Katie. […]